Irish citizens who voted to protect the constitutional right to life during May’s abortion referendum should not give up hope, a prominent pro-life group has said. The remarks come after the news last week that the bill which allows for the introduction of abortion services in Ireland passed all stages of the Oireachtas and will…
A controversial priest who the Vatican removed from ministry in 2012 has said there is “no possibility” now of him signing a statement that he accepts the fullness of Church teaching. Writing on his website, Fr Tony Flannery CSsR says the head of his order has told him that although he had been withdrawn from…
Parents are relying on loan sharks to stave off Christmas debts, The Irish Catholic has learned. Although the festive holiday can be an expensive time of year, a well-known charity has revealed that parents are depending on extortionate money lenders to pay for Christmas expenses. According to Michael Deehan, who is based in one of…
A well-known Belfast priest has been honoured for services to the community by Queen’s University Belfast. Fr Gary Donegan, who is best known for his community and peacebuilding work in North Belfast’s Ardoyne area, was awarded an honorary degree by the university last Thursday. The Passionist priest, who was born in Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh, and…
Colm Fitzpatrick and Greg Daly Parishioners need to go the extra mile in reaching out to family and friends who are no longer practicing the Faith, bishops have urged. Given decreasing numbers of people attending Mass in Ireland, bishops have said the laity need to be creative and original in bringing back those who have fallen away. After…
Young people leaving State care continue to receive inadequate support, with those leaving residential care put in “particularly risky” situations including homelessness, according to Sr Stan. Speaking on behalf of Focus Ireland, she said Tusla’s aftercare social workers face huge caseloads which lead to children being assigned a caseworker but not receiving support. “Some, particularly…
Confusion continues to surround the actions of the Religious Sisters of Charity around the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group and plans to build a new National Maternity Hospital, apparently without a religious ethos and all set to perform abortions on the grounds of St Vincent’s Hospital in south Dublin. A year and a half ago the…
There has been a broad welcome in the Diocese of Clogher for Pope Francis’ decision to appoint a local priest, Msgr Larry Duffy, as bishop of the border diocese. His predecessor, Bishop Emeritus Liam MacDaid, hailed the unusual decision – new bishops in Ireland have tended of late to be external rather than internal appointments…
With bishops urging parishioners to be “creative and original” in encouraging family members and friends to come back to the Faith, the initiatives they have developed in their own dioceses set a shining example of how Catholics can be innovative in their own personal spheres of influence. The Mercy on the Mall event which has…
A Co. Down-based priest and writer has criticised this summer’s World Meeting of Families (WMOF) for watering down the Christian vision of the family to become more acceptable to current secular understandings of family life. Writing in The Furrow, Fr Andrew McMahon observes that although there were “unquestionably edifying aspects” of WMOF2018, a desire for…
Greg Daly
Colm Fitzpatrick
Chai Brady